You mean it needs more than just petrol?
March 8, 2011 4:33 PM Subscribe
So, I've driven for a while with apparently no coolant. Probably over 1000k (621miles). Silly me. Now I've remedied the coolant situation, what do I need to check for, damage wise?
It's a 1994 Toyota Corona, Automatic Transmission. It's in good condition all up, just had all the belts replaced, other fluids and oil filters in good condition. Before a recent road trip I checked the coolant level, noticed about 1cm (0.3inch) in there, figured, foolishly, that the low level was due to the car being still warm from a brief drive.
Strangely enough I didn't notice anything while driving it recently, except for a noise that sounded like metal brushing on metal - I figured it might be a wheel bearing and was about to get it checked out.
I'm not sure whether it's a factor but the weather here has been fairly mild, not too hot or too cold. Again, no obvious "symptoms" from the engine.
I'm thinking I should probably do a complete radiator flush, but what should I be looking for in terms of potential damage? The car itself isn't worth a whole lot but I guess it says something that the engine hasn't seized on me. And yeah, in case you hadn't guessed, this is my first car, and I'm asking you all cause my car friends will have no shortage of laughs if I ask them. Cheers!
It's a 1994 Toyota Corona, Automatic Transmission. It's in good condition all up, just had all the belts replaced, other fluids and oil filters in good condition. Before a recent road trip I checked the coolant level, noticed about 1cm (0.3inch) in there, figured, foolishly, that the low level was due to the car being still warm from a brief drive.
Strangely enough I didn't notice anything while driving it recently, except for a noise that sounded like metal brushing on metal - I figured it might be a wheel bearing and was about to get it checked out.
I'm not sure whether it's a factor but the weather here has been fairly mild, not too hot or too cold. Again, no obvious "symptoms" from the engine.
I'm thinking I should probably do a complete radiator flush, but what should I be looking for in terms of potential damage? The car itself isn't worth a whole lot but I guess it says something that the engine hasn't seized on me. And yeah, in case you hadn't guessed, this is my first car, and I'm asking you all cause my car friends will have no shortage of laughs if I ask them. Cheers!
Agreed with schyler. Even your water pump may be fine.
posted by IAmBroom at 4:46 PM on March 8, 2011
posted by IAmBroom at 4:46 PM on March 8, 2011
I can't imagine that you drove for 621 miles with no coolant and didn't notice any problems. Are you sure you didn't just spring a leak after your road trip?
posted by amyms at 4:46 PM on March 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by amyms at 4:46 PM on March 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Before a recent road trip I checked the coolant level, noticed about 1cm (0.3inch) in there
Wait, are you talking about the level in the overflow tank? That is not the same as having no coolant. You can have a bone dry overflow tank and still have plenty of coolant left in the system. If you truly had no coolant you would have destroyed the engine in way less than 600 miles, so something isn't adding up here.
posted by Rhomboid at 4:54 PM on March 8, 2011
Wait, are you talking about the level in the overflow tank? That is not the same as having no coolant. You can have a bone dry overflow tank and still have plenty of coolant left in the system. If you truly had no coolant you would have destroyed the engine in way less than 600 miles, so something isn't adding up here.
posted by Rhomboid at 4:54 PM on March 8, 2011
Best answer: Was there no coolant in the car, or just no coolant in the overflow reservoir? No coolant in the car is a terrible thing, but I doubt your engine would have survived 1000km without any coolant. No coolant in the reservoir isn't a big deal -- you should top it up, but otherwise I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.
posted by Forktine at 4:55 PM on March 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Forktine at 4:55 PM on March 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: As far as things to look for, an overheated engine usually results in a warped head, which means it starts burning coolant or oil. Check your tailpipe for white smoke (coolant) or black smoke (oil), but don't get confused by the normal condensation that happens when the engine is warming up. And naturally, get it topped up and check the levels weekly to make sure you're not burning/leaking anything.
If the coolant level got low enough you might have trapped air in the system. I can't tell whether you're going to do this yourself or have someone do it, but make sure either way that you get that trapped air out.
posted by Rhomboid at 5:00 PM on March 8, 2011
If the coolant level got low enough you might have trapped air in the system. I can't tell whether you're going to do this yourself or have someone do it, but make sure either way that you get that trapped air out.
posted by Rhomboid at 5:00 PM on March 8, 2011
Best answer: You would have noticed "no coolant." The steam followed by smoke, followed by being on the side of the road would be the indicator there. Your overflow tank was empty.
Refill the overflow with coolant. After you go for a drive, park your car on pavement or over some newspaper. After it's parked for awhile, check for any fluids on your pavement and/or newspaper. Check your fluid (in the reservoir) for any metal flakes or shavings. If you see metal in the coolant (shiny!) then take it in for service and have someone look at it. Watch your car's temp for the next week.
I agree with everyone above, your car is probably fine.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 5:00 PM on March 8, 2011
Refill the overflow with coolant. After you go for a drive, park your car on pavement or over some newspaper. After it's parked for awhile, check for any fluids on your pavement and/or newspaper. Check your fluid (in the reservoir) for any metal flakes or shavings. If you see metal in the coolant (shiny!) then take it in for service and have someone look at it. Watch your car's temp for the next week.
I agree with everyone above, your car is probably fine.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 5:00 PM on March 8, 2011
Response by poster: Yeah, I meant the level in the plastic coolant tank to the left of the engine.
posted by Dillonlikescookies at 5:01 PM on March 8, 2011
posted by Dillonlikescookies at 5:01 PM on March 8, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks for the help everyone. :)
posted by Dillonlikescookies at 5:02 PM on March 8, 2011
posted by Dillonlikescookies at 5:02 PM on March 8, 2011
Best answer: So, just FYI, the total capacity of the cooling system is probably around 2 gal or 5-10 L. That includes the volume of the radiator, all the hoses, as well as numerous channels/passageways carved throughout the engine block and head. The little overflow tank is just the tip of the iceberg. The reason for the overflow tank that the cooling system is pressurized: this increases the boiling point of the coolant/water mixture. But this coolant/water mixture also wants to expand as it heats, and if it were a completely sealed system that would mean that the pressure would vary considerably. Instead, there is a little pressure valve (in the radiator cap) that sets a limit to the system pressure, and when that limit is exceeded coolant is allowed to flow out of the radiator and into the overflow tank. This means the system can get up to pressure and then stay there at a constant level instead of fluctuating. Then when the car cools off again the coolant contracts, and the coolant that was forced out into the tank is sucked back into the system -- think of that tank as like breathing room for expansion. That's why there are two lines on it. The lower line is where the level should be when the engine is cold and the upper line is where the level should be when it's running. This is also why you should never take the cap off the radiator when there is any heat -- you will get a geyser of hot liquid shooting up, because that is the part that is pressurized. But the overflow tank is on the other side of the pressure release valve and so it's always at atmospheric pressure, and it's safe to take the cap off and top it up even if the engine is hot -- another reason manufacturers like the tank (fewer horribly burned car newbies.)
posted by Rhomboid at 5:17 PM on March 8, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by Rhomboid at 5:17 PM on March 8, 2011 [4 favorites]
Oh, and another thing that car newbies neglect to figure out: the water is what carries the heat. The job of the antifreeze is to raise the boiling point of the water as well as prevent freezing, to prevent corrosion, and to lubricate the pump. But the antifreeze does not contribute significantly to heat transfer, the main purpose of having a cooling system. That's what the water is for. So you want a mixture of about 50% water, 50% antifreeze; sometimes this is modified by climate but it never gets much farther than 60/40 or possibly 70/30. The stuff they sell at the store is 100% antifreeze and is meant to be diluted with water to 50/50 (or whatever.) You shouldn't just buy a thing of antifreeze at the store and start pouring it in to top the system off. That is, unless it specifically says on the container that it's a premixed formulation with the water already added. I don't know about your locality but where I live they sell both and it's very easy if you don't know what you're doing to end up pouring straight antifreeze in your car which is not good for it.
posted by Rhomboid at 5:30 PM on March 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Rhomboid at 5:30 PM on March 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
As mentioned it is impossible that you drove your car for more than 3 or 4 miles with no coolant. You just had low coolant - of note is that warm engines have a higher level rather than a lower level. Check the marks on the expansion tank to make sure you are checking the level correctly (there may be a 'hot' and a 'cold' level marking).
strangely enough I didn't notice anything while driving it recently, except for a noise that sounded like metal brushing on metal - I figured it might be a wheel bearing and was about to get it checked out.
This is more interesting. Entirely unconnected to the coolant non-issue, though. When does it make this noise - can you cause the noise to happen with an action or is it all the time (ie during cornering, during steering when stationary, coasting in neutral versus driving properly, does it change with engine revs or with speed, can you 'feel' it at all through your feet on the floor etc., etc).
posted by Brockles at 6:18 PM on March 8, 2011
strangely enough I didn't notice anything while driving it recently, except for a noise that sounded like metal brushing on metal - I figured it might be a wheel bearing and was about to get it checked out.
This is more interesting. Entirely unconnected to the coolant non-issue, though. When does it make this noise - can you cause the noise to happen with an action or is it all the time (ie during cornering, during steering when stationary, coasting in neutral versus driving properly, does it change with engine revs or with speed, can you 'feel' it at all through your feet on the floor etc., etc).
posted by Brockles at 6:18 PM on March 8, 2011
Brockles: "As mentioned it is impossible that you drove your car for more than 3 or 4 miles with no coolant."
I drove my extremely-low-compression-due-to-shot-rings CRX for about ten miles around town with apparently no coolant. Wasn't til I hit the highway that the temperature gage went nuts.
But yeah, if you'd had no coolant whatsoever in the engine (not just in the overflow), you would have noticed - knocking, bucking, rattle-trap noises.
posted by notsnot at 7:17 PM on March 8, 2011
I drove my extremely-low-compression-due-to-shot-rings CRX for about ten miles around town with apparently no coolant. Wasn't til I hit the highway that the temperature gage went nuts.
But yeah, if you'd had no coolant whatsoever in the engine (not just in the overflow), you would have noticed - knocking, bucking, rattle-trap noises.
posted by notsnot at 7:17 PM on March 8, 2011
strangely enough I didn't notice anything while driving it recently, except for a noise that sounded like metal brushing on metal
This is most likely worn-out brake pads.
posted by dg at 9:33 PM on March 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
This is most likely worn-out brake pads.
posted by dg at 9:33 PM on March 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
it is impossible that you drove your car for more than 3 or 4 miles with no coolant
This may soon change :-)
posted by flabdablet at 12:52 AM on March 9, 2011
This may soon change :-)
posted by flabdablet at 12:52 AM on March 9, 2011
what should I be looking for in terms of potential damage?
A blown hose or a bad radiator, are likely culprits. Rhomboid covered the effects of driving with no coolant.
posted by electroboy at 6:47 AM on March 9, 2011
A blown hose or a bad radiator, are likely culprits. Rhomboid covered the effects of driving with no coolant.
posted by electroboy at 6:47 AM on March 9, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by schyler523 at 4:44 PM on March 8, 2011